Full list of Browns outgoing free agents: Fan favorite, 2023 award winner could exit

NFL free agency will kick off on March 13 — two days after the legal tampering period which begins on March 11. The Cleveland Browns were incredibly active last year and that might need to be the case once again in 2024.

Not only will they look to fill some areas of need that were present in 2023 — such as depth at wide receiver and the offensive line — but there could be several more holes created if they're unable to keep all their pending free agents. As it stands now, 23 players are set to hit the open market.

Cleveland can come to terms with them before the start of the new year but if that doesn't happen, every team in the league will be free to negotiate with them. Below is a look at each player the Browns could stand to lose.

Jakeem Grant, WR, Age: 31

Jakeem Grant has unfortunately never taken a snap in the regular season for the Browns. A former Pro Bowl return man, Grant suffered an Achilles injury in 2022 and missed his first campaign with the team. He fought back in 2023 but then ruptured his patellar tendon on his first touch in the preseason. It's unlikely he comes back which is a major disappointment after the promise he brought.

Marquise Goodwin, WR, Age: 33

Another promising addition to the roster was Marquise Goodwin, who signed in 2023 to be their deep threat. He totaled just 100 yards from scrimmage and is also unlikely to be retained.

James Proche, WR, Age: 27

After the Browns traded Donovan Peoples-Jones to the Detroit Lions, they signed James Proche to be the return man. He took DPJ's old number but was never as impactful. He showed a lot of burst when he did return the ball but had a few issues, including a muffed punt against his old team, the Ravens.

Harrison Bryant, TE, Age: 25

A fourth-round pick in 2020, Harrison Bryant enters free agency with 89 receptions for 791 yards with 10 touchdowns in his career. This past season, he proved to be effective under center when the Browns needed a quarterback sneak. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound tight end totaled just eight yards on five sneak attempts but converted four first-downs.

He's sure-handed (especially in the red zone) and had an exciting 47-yard catch and run in the playoffs but could be gone if he commands too much money. If he can be afforded, there will continue to be a role.

Geron Christian, OT, Age: 27

Cleveland was handed one injury after another on the offensive line and Geron Christian was one of their emergency options. Signed in October following a release from the Texans, he started nine games and was the left tackle in the playoffs as well. He wasn't great but he was arguably better than James Hudson. Perhaps he can be an affordable swing tackle option.

Nick Harris, C, Age: 25

Set to be the starter in 2022, Nick Harris injured his knee in the preseason opener and Ethan Pocic took over — and never gave up the job. Harris has played well when on the field and was a lot of fun as the fullback in 2023. Cleveland would surely love to have him back but he might want to look for somewhere he can compete for a starting spot.

Michael Dunn, G, Age: 29

One of the more trusted backup linemen, Michael Dunn has started six games over the past four seasons. He's been a solid guard and could be retained as the primary backup to Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller.

Shelby Harris, DT, Age: 32

The Browns defensive line could be in trouble this season. They were vastly improved due to the additions made at defensive tackle, which was headlined by the Dalvin Tomlinson signing. While Tomlinson signed for three-years, the remainder of their additions joined on one-year deals. One of those was Shelby Harris, a nine-year veteran who spent the majority of his career with the Denver Broncos.

Harris appeared in all 17 games with seven starts and was highly effective. He had 28 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and batted five passes at the line of scrimmage. Known for getting pressure in the passing game he was also surprisingly strong against the run in 2023. Even at 33, he would be welcomed back with open arms but might be able to get more money elsewhere. Time will tell.

Maurice Hurst, DT, Age: 28

Another one-year signing at D-tackle, Maurice Hurst was this season's low-risk/high-reward addition. He's been a good 3-tech throughout his career but has dealt with a lot of injuries — even missing all of 2022. He suited up for 13 games with the Browns and had 22 tackles, 1.5 sacks, seven pressures, and one impressive interception.

Hurst is another player who should be retained but the cost is going to be the hang-up. He missed the final four games as well as the postseason, so durability remains a concern. Perhaps that plays in Andrew Berry's favor and he can get him on another affordable deal.

Jordan Elliott, DT, Age: 26

Before the season, Jordan Elliott felt like a bust. Then, he had his best campaign in 2023. The additions around him as well as the presence of Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator helped Elliott improve. Now, the Browns have to decide if that warrants a new deal.

Za'Darius Smith, EDGE, Age: 31

Myles Garrett has one side of the line locked down but the Browns needed another pass-rusher on the edge. Za'Darius Smith was the man they targeted as they landed him in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings. He got a lot of pressure on opposing quarterbacks but recorded just 5.5 sacks. He still could ask for a lot on the open market, so his return is questionable.

Matthew Adams, LB, Age: 28

When Bubba Ventrone was added as the special teams coach, he was able to bring in a familiar face. Matthew Adams was with the Colts from 2018 through 2021 and was a standout for Ventrone. That was again the case in Cleveland with Adams playing just 97 snaps on defense and 435 on special teams. He finished with 17 tackles and could be added back for the same role in 2024.

Sione Takitaki, LB, Age: 28

A torn ACL ended Sione Taktaki's 2022 campaign prematurely but he came back in 2023 and continued to play well. He had 65 tackles, thre tackles for a loss, two sacks, and three pass defenses. He's a solid option at SAM linebacker and while there are several free agents at linebacker, he should be the priority.

Jordan Kunaszyk, LB, Age: 27

Another linebacker who made his mark on special teams is Jordan Kunaszyk who had nine tackles in just five games last year. He's a role player but has a ton of energy and even won over Jim Schwartz.

Anthony Walker Jr., LB, Age: 28

For the past three years, Anthony Walker has been an emotional and vocal leader for the Browns defense. He has 170 tackles in 28 games but has also missed 22 games due to injury. Cleveland will likely look for a younger MIKE to play next to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

Jacob Phillips, LB, Age: 24

There was a point when Jacob Phillips looked like a steal. He came on strong at the end of 2020 but then dealt with one injury after another. Phillips missed all of the 2023 season and never played more than nine games in any other year. Cleveland will surely be letting him walk in the offseason.

Mike Ford, CB, Age: 28

Another player signed to help Bubba Ventrone fix issues on special teams was Michael Ford. In addition to his work on coverage units, Ford was pressed into action as a cornerback and had his best game of the season in their Week 9 win over Baltimore. Ford had just two tackles but he broke up two passes and picked off Lamar Jackson.

He seems like a player the front office would love to bring back. The only question will be whether or not he find somewhere that will allow him to get more snaps on the base defense.

Rodney McLeod, FS, Age: 33

Rodney McLeod is a tenured veteran who joined the Browns in part due to his relationship with Jim Schwartz. The two were together in Philadelphia and won a Super Bowl following the 2017 season. McLeod is an underrated safety but was sent to the IR after just 10 games following a biceps injury. Soon to be 34, he might not be on the radar this offseason unless they don't add any youth in the draft or free agency they trust.

Kahlef Hailassie, S, Age: 23 (Restricted Free Agent)

Signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent out of Western Kentucky, Kahlef Hailassie was unable to make their 53-man roster. He was claimed by Cleveland on waivers and appeared in nine games with one start. Hailassie finished with eight tackles and is listed as a restricted free agent, meaning the Browns should be able to keep him around if they choose.

Duron Harmon, S, Age: 33

Injuries in the secondary led to the signing of veteran Duron Harmon, who was on the practice squad initially. Once Grant Delpit was sent to the IR, Harmon was added to the active roster. In four games, he had 16 tackles, one sack, and one interception. He's a savvy veteran but was only signed due to depth concerns and won't be prioritized over younger options.

Kareem Hunt, RB, Age: 28

It already seemed as though Kareem Hunt was done with the Cleveland Browns. After four seasons with his hometown team, they decided to head into the 2023 season with Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, and Pierre Strong. Then when Chubb was lost in Week 2 against the Steelers, Hunt was brought back.

His return was filled with highs and lows. He continued to run hard and had nine touchdowns in the regular season and two more in the playoffs. However, he averaged a career-low in yards per rushing attempt (3.0) and yards per reception (5.6). This was after reports surfaced in the 2023 offseason that the front office felt he lost a step.

Hunt will be remembered fondly for how much he left on the field but it seems as though he won't be back. He will remain a fan-favorite and should be proud of what he did for the team he grew up rooting for.

Joe Flacco, QB, Age: 39

Signed to the roster in November, Joe Flacco not only took over as the starter for the Browns — but he was able to win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. Flacco led Cleveland to a 4-1 record, with the four wins coming consecutively. He threw for 1,616 yards with 13 touchdowns and while he had eight picks, he was also the reason the offense came to life down the stretch.

Now entering free agency, the Browns would love to bring him back but there could be quite the market for the 39-year-old. He might not want to be the backup with limited time left to play and it would be tough to blame him should he decide to sign somewhere he can compete for the chance to start.

Corey Bojorquez, P, Age: 27

For the past two seasons, Corey Bojorquez has proven to be a weapon for the Browns. He's averaged 49.0 yards per punt and pinned the opposing team inside the 20-yard line 54 times. He routinely flipped the field and had a long of 76 yards in 2022 and 73 this year. If he's not retained, that would be a tough loss on special teams.

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